Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-02-17
a srUDi vr n BLUE-JAr.

is one of my birds greatest pleasures,
and most attractive Of all he finds the
drawer of my desk, on the edge Of
Which he stands delighted and be-
wildered by the variety before him.
Great would be the havoc if were not
there; and the curious thing about it is
that he will pull things over carelessly,
with one eye on me, to see If object.
If, on touching some particular thing.
he sees that do not approve, and he
recognizes my sentiment as quickly as
bright child would. that thing. and
that only, he will have. At once he
snatches it and flies away across the
room, and ] may chase him in vain.
He regards it as Il frolic got up for his
amusement. and no child ever equaled
him in lodging; he cannot be driven,
and if corncred he uses his wings.
simply put my wits against his, follow
him about till he has to drop his load
to breathe, when sudden sCart sends
him off, and | secure it. If | cover up
anything, he knows at once it is some
forbidden treasure, and devotes all his
energy and cunning, which are great.
to uncoverihg and possessing himseh
of it. He opens any box by delivering
sharp blows under the edge of the
cover, and hides my postagc-stamps in
books and magazines. He hops around
the floor in heavy way, AZ often side.
ways as straight, and holds his toes as
close together rs though he had worn
tight boots all his life. If startled, he
bounds up into the air in the oldest
way, foot or two. or eyen more, gen.
orally turning half around, and coming
down with his head the other way. II
much alarmed, he will bounce up in
this way half dozen times in quick
succession, and should he happen to be
on table ut the time he usually ends
by landing on the floor. His alighting
after any flight is most singular; he
comes to the floor in IA crouching posi-
ton, legs sprawled, body horizontal
and nearly touching the mating, look
ing like bird gone mad; then instant
ly springs up six or eight inches. half
turns, and stands upright, crest erect,
and looking excited. almost frightened.
If much disturbed, he comes down
with wings half open, tail held up, and
every feather awry, as If he We're out
in gale, utteling at the same time a
loud Squawk. He is !; most expert
catcher, not only seizing without fail a
canary seed thrown to him. but even
futtering bits of falling paper. the
hardest of all things to catch.
The blue-jay is bird of opinions
about most things, and able to express
himself quite clearly; as, for example,
when he found himself under chair
without rounds, on which he likes to
perch, he stood and looked around on
every side, and made low, complains
ing cry, plainly a protest against so
unnatural chair; and again when he
scolded at the rain that came in sudden
gusts against the window, or charged
furiously at the crack under "a door
when he heard sweeping outside. In
general he is very quiet when one is in
the room, but the moment the door
closes behind the last person his voice
is heard, -whistling exactly like boy,
calling, squawking, and occasionally
uttering sweet though not loud song.
which is varied by a sornd dixie rub
bling cork against glass. The most
quiet approach silenees him. When
under strong emotion he may squawk
or scream before spectators, but he
never whistles or sings when he knows
any one is in the ROOM When out Of
his sight. and SO long silent that he
has forgotten me, haye now and then
heard the song.
The funniest thing this knowing fell
low does.is to stamp his feet, and it is
a genuine expression Of impotence or
displeasure When take something
away from him. or he thinks mean tc
do 80, or refuse HIN something he
wants, he stands still. and jerks his
feet in such way that they stamp
with loud sound, as if they were Of
iron. 1t is very droll. In serious
anger, he adds to this. bowing and
curtsying by bending the legs, snap
ping the bill, reckiug, and jumping up
with the body without lifting the feet.
-Olice 7hornc hiHcr IN atlantic.